1. RT-Mart
Base: Shanghai
Revenue: RMB 106 billion (US$16.7 billion)
Number of stores: 490
RT-Mart is a hypermarket chain started in Taiwan in 1996 and later entered Shanghai in 1997. In 2017, it was acquired by Sun Art Retail Group backed by e-commerce giant Alibaba.
Sun Art now operates its business with hypermarkets, supermarkets and mini stores under the brands “RT-Mart”, “RT-Super” and “RT-Mini” respectively. In 2020, RT-Mart recorded a revenue of RMB 106 billion (US$16.7 billion) and 490 stores nationwide.
RT-Mart first targeted second- and third-tier cities and expanded into the first-tier market in 2010 through its first store in Beijing.
To stand out from its early competitors such as Walmart and Carrefour, RT-Mart did not focus on lowering its selling prices but offered more product varieties to consumers and emphasised customer services.
RT-Mart also quickly adapted to new technology by establishing its online platform feiniu.com in 2013 and using new retail technology such as electronic payments and interactive kiosks developed by Alibaba.
Writings by Ning Sang Lawati and Natalie Wang
